Patents by Inventor James R. Ashby

James R. Ashby has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10214966
    Abstract: A multi-layer downhole drilling tool designed for drilling a wellbore including a plurality of formations is disclosed. The drilling tool includes a bit body including a rotational axis extending therethrough. A plurality of blades are disposed on exterior portions of the bit body. A plurality of primary cutting elements and a plurality of back-up cutting elements are disposed on exterior portions of the plurality of blades. The back-up cutting elements are track set with corresponding primary cutting elements, and each back-up cutting element is disposed on a different blade than the corresponding primary cutting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Shilin Chen, Guy Lefort, Robert W. Arfele, James R. Ashby
  • Patent number: 9650835
    Abstract: According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a method of determining a critical depth of cut of a drill bit comprises selecting a radial swath associated with an area of a bit face of a drill bit. The method further comprises identifying a plurality of cutting elements disposed on the bit face that each include at least a portion located within the radial swath. The method also comprises identifying a depth of cut controller (DOCC) disposed on the bit face and configured to control a depth of cut of the portions of the plurality of cutting elements located within the radial swath. The method additionally comprises calculating a critical depth of cut associated with the radial swath and DOCC based on a depth of cut associated with each portion of the plurality of cutting elements located within the radial swath and controlled by the DOCC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Shilin Chen, James R. Ashby, Robert W. Arfele
  • Patent number: 9540882
    Abstract: According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a method of determining a critical depth of cut of a drill bit comprises selecting a radial swath associated with an area of a bit face of a drill bit. The method further comprises identifying a plurality of cutting elements disposed on the bit face that each include at least a portion located within the radial swath. The method also comprises identifying a depth of cut controller (DOCC) disposed on the bit face and configured to control a depth of cut of the portions of the plurality of cutting elements located within the radial swath. The method additionally comprises calculating a critical depth of cut associated with the radial swath and DOCC based on a depth of cut associated with each portion of the plurality of cutting elements located within the radial swath and controlled by the DOCC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Shilin Chen, James R. Ashby, Robert W. Arfele
  • Patent number: 9523242
    Abstract: A method of configuring a blade of a drill bit includes determining a first desired depth of cut for a first radial swath associated with a bit face of a drill bit. The first radial swath is associated with a first area of the bit face. The method further includes identifying a first plurality of cutting elements located on the bit face. Each of the cutting elements includes at least a portion located within the first radial swath. The method additionally includes configuring a first blade surface of a blade. The first blade surface is located within the first radial swath and configured based on the first desired depth of cut for the first radial swath. The blade surface is also configured based on each portion of the first plurality of cutting elements located within the first radial swath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Shilin Chen, James R. Ashby, Robert W. Arfele
  • Patent number: 9506294
    Abstract: A method of configuring a depth of cut controller (DOCC) of a drill bit includes determining a first desired depth of cut for a first radial swath associated with a bit face of a drill bit. The first radial swath is associated with a first area of the bit face. The method further includes identifying a first plurality of cutting elements located on the bit face that each include at least a portion located within the first radial swath. The method additionally includes configuring a first depth of cut controller (DOCC) for placement on the bit face within the first radial swath. The first depth of cut controller is configured based on the first desired depth of cut for the first radial swath and each portion of the first plurality of cutting elements located within the first radial swath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Shilin Chen, James R. Ashby, Robert W. Arfele
  • Publication number: 20150152689
    Abstract: A multi-layer downhole drilling tool designed for drilling a wellbore including a plurality of formations is disclosed. The drilling tool includes a bit body including a rotational axis extending therethrough. A plurality of blades are disposed on exterior portions of the bit body. A plurality of primary cutting elements and a plurality of back-up cutting elements are disposed on exterior portions of the plurality of blades. The back-up cutting elements are track set with corresponding primary cutting elements, and each back-up cutting element is disposed on a different blade than the corresponding primary cutting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Shilin Chen, Guy Lefort, Robert W. Arfele, James R. Ashby
  • Patent number: 8863860
    Abstract: A method of configuring a depth of cut controller (DOCC) of a drill bit comprises determining a desired minimum depth of cut for a radial swath of the drill bit. The method additionally comprises identifying a cutting edge of a cutting element located on the drill bit. The cutting edge is located within the radial swath and a cutting zone of the cutting element. The method further comprises identifying cutting elements that each include at least a portion located within the radial swath. The method also comprises determining a radial position and an angular position of a depth of cut controller (DOCC) for placement on the bit face based on the cutting edge of the cutting element. The method additionally comprises determining an axial position of the DOCC based on each portion of the cutting elements located within the radial swath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Shilin Chen, James R. Ashby, Robert W. Arfele
  • Publication number: 20130253836
    Abstract: According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a method of determining a critical depth of cut of a drill bit comprises selecting a radial swath associated with an area of a bit face of a drill bit. The method further comprises identifying a plurality of cutting elements disposed on the bit face that each include at least a portion located within the radial swath. The method also comprises identifying a depth of cut controller (DOCC) disposed on the bit face and configured to control a depth of cut of the portions of the plurality of cutting elements located within the radial swath. The method additionally comprises calculating a critical depth of cut associated with the radial swath and DOCC based on a depth of cut associated with each portion of the plurality of cutting elements located within the radial swath and controlled by the DOCC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Inventors: Shilin Chen, James R. Ashby, Robert W. Arfele
  • Publication number: 20130233621
    Abstract: According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a method of configuring a blade of a drill bit comprises determining a first desired depth of cut for a first radial swath associated with a bit face of a drill bit. The first radial swath is associated with a first area of the bit face. The method further comprises identifying a first plurality of cutting elements located on the bit face. Each of the cutting elements includes at least a portion located within the first radial swath. The method additionally comprises configuring a first blade surface of a blade. The first blade surface is located within the first radial swath and configured based on the first desired depth of cut for the first radial swath. The blade surface is also configured based on each portion of the first plurality of cutting elements located within the first radial swath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Inventors: Shilin Chen, James R. Ashby, Robert W. Arfele
  • Publication number: 20130238245
    Abstract: According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a method of determining a critical depth of cut of a drill bit comprises selecting a radial swath associated with an area of a bit face of a drill bit. The method further comprises identifying a plurality of cutting elements disposed on the bit face that each include at least a portion located within the radial swath. The method also comprises identifying a depth of cut controller (DOCC) disposed on the bit face and configured to control a depth of cut of the portions of the plurality of cutting elements located within the radial swath. The method additionally comprises calculating a critical depth of cut associated with the radial swath and DOCC based on a depth of cut associated with each portion of the plurality of cutting elements located within the radial swath and controlled by the DOCC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Inventors: Shilin Chen, James R. Ashby, Robert W. Arfele
  • Publication number: 20130228378
    Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a method of configuring a depth of cut controller (DOCC) of a drill bit comprises determining a first desired depth of cut for a first radial swath associated with a bit face of a drill bit. The first radial swath is associated with a first area of the bit face. The method further comprises identifying a first plurality of cutting elements located on the bit face that each include at least a portion located within the first radial swath. The method additionally comprises configuring a first depth of cut controller (DOCC) for placement on the bit face within the first radial swath. The first depth of cut controller is configured based on the first desired depth of cut for the first radial swath and each portion of the first plurality of cutting elements located within the first radial swath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Inventors: Shilin Chen, James R. Ashby, Robert W. Arfele
  • Publication number: 20120111630
    Abstract: According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a method of configuring a depth of cut controller (DOCC) of a drill bit comprises determining a desired minimum depth of cut for a radial swath of the drill bit. The method additionally comprises identifying a cutting edge of a cutting element located on the drill bit. The cutting edge is located within the radial swath and a cutting zone of the cutting element. The method further comprises identifying cutting elements that each include at least a portion located within the radial swath. The method also comprises determining a radial position and an angular position of a depth of cut controller (DOCC) for placement on the bit face based on the cutting edge of the cutting element. The method additionally comprises determining an axial position of the DOCC based on each portion of the cutting elements located within the radial swath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Shilin Chen, James R. Ashby, Robert W. Arfele